Energy Hotline Helps With Energy Bills

59,613 Ontario residents who called the LEAP line during the last year. So were 1,707 callers from Simcoe Muskoka, who completed their own applications for energy-related grants. Regardless of grant eligibility, all callers were told about the United Way-funded 2-1-1 helpline – a free, 24/7, live-answer phone resource (or website: www.211Ontario.ca) providing local information, assistance and referrals.

“United Way Simcoe Muskoka is committed to investing in the wellbeing of residents across our region,” said UWSM CEO Dale Biddell, whose organization has been a provincial lead agency delivering front-line support to low-income utility consumers for nearly a decade. “Poverty reduction is a priority for us, so operating a 14-person in-bound call centre to connect vulnerable households with grant programs and community supports is a key component of our overall impact strategy.”

To be eligible, applicants must be residential customers of Hydro One, Enbridge Gas, Union Gas, Inn Power, Alectra, PowerStream or Veridian. Additionally, they must currently live at the home associated with the utility bill being discussed, and qualify as a low-income consumer.

To ask questions or apply for an energy program, call the LEAP line at 1-855-487-5327.